Dental engine



O. H. AND A. F. PIEPER.

DENTAL ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 191;. RENEWED MAR. 25, 1918.

Emma May 25, 1920.

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0. H. AND A. F. PIEPER. DENTAL ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1912. RENEWED MAR. 25, 1918.

1,840,908, Patented May 25, 1920.

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ITNES -55 INVENTORS QQCQZEWI 1 1 i ATTORNEYS.

O. H. AND A. F. PIEPER.

DENTAL ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, I912. RENEWED MAR. 25, I918- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

u 'riiiilllllll lfillllllllw :miiiinw Patented May 25, 1920.

oscAR H. PIEPER nun ALIHONSE F. rinrns,

015 ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

DENTAL ENGINE.

Application filed May 27, 1912,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OSCAR H. PIEPER and ALPHoNsn F. PIEPER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental. Engines.

This invention relates to dental engines, more particularly of the electric type, and to the motor and tool arm supporting connections, and has for its general object to provide a simple, efiicient, durable and easily handled mechanism which possesses a very wide range of adjustment and also a pleasing general design harmonizing with the usual aesthetic furnishings of dentists oflices.

More specific objects of the invention are to provide a special frame and supports for a counterbalanced electric dental motor and an attached tool carrying arm which permits the counterbalanced motor and arm to be not. only swung laterally, when not of use, toward a wall to which they are held, but also allows the counterbalanced motor and tool arm to be together projected radially in any direction for a considerable distance from the wall to afford a very wide range of adjustment of the operating dental tool, while also preferably providing for covering and protecting the circuit wires leading from the motor within tubular or channeled portions of the supporting frame.

To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figu embodiment of the invention,

re 1 is a side elevation of a preferred showing the counterbalanced motor and tool arm swung into operative position, and with their extensible supporting bracket closely folded;

Fig. 2 is a smaller scale side view illustrating the bodily projection of the motor and tool arm by the manual extension of their supporting bracket;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal transverse section taken on the line (Ir-a in Fig. 7;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the mospecification of Letters ratent.

The standard 6 also Patented May 25, 1920.

Seria 1N0- 699., 38. Renewed March 25, 1918. Serial No. 224,650.

tor and tool arm swung into inoperative position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail vertical section taken on the line bb in Fig. 7, and through the frame t'ube connections with the motor and tool a-rm fulcrum;

Fig. 6 is a detail partly broken out top plan View of the folded extensible bracket, the frame, the motor, and inner portions of the tool arm;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view with parts .in vertical section on the line cin Fig.

6, and

Flgs. 8 and 9 respectively represent inner the two opposite contact carand tool arm fulface views of rying plates at the motor crum.

The frame which pivotally supports the rigidly connected electric motor 1, and tool arm 2, comprises two horizontally spaced members 3, 4, preferably in the form of upstanding arch tubes the inner ends of which are fastened in vertical hollow bearings 5 formed at the bottom of a detachable stand.- afd 6, supported by an extensible bracket 7 having two outer parallel arms 8, 9, which are pivoted at 8 9 respectively, to the bracket head plate 7 The bracket 7 also has two inner parallel arms 8, 9, and two vertical guide links 10, slotted at 11. The

lower or inner parts of the bracket arms 8, 8, cross each other where together at 8 and said arms also are pivoted at 8 to the tops of the links 10, and at their extremities 8 carry rollers or pins which move in the vertical slots 11 of the links 10, as the bracket is extended or collapsed. The lower or outer bracket arms 9 are pivoted at 9 to the links 10, and at 9 to the head plate 7 and the bearing 12. The plate 7 and the links 10 retain substantially vertical planes at all extending or collapsing adjustments of the bracket 7 The standard 6 also has upper and lower spaced pairs of lugs 6 6 shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7 and between which the bracket head plate 7 is placed; Said plate is vertically slotted from the top at 6 to receive a cross-pin 6 fixed in the standard lugs 6 and a bolt 6 secures the lower standard lugs 6 to the plate 7 when the plate slot 6 engages the standard lug pin 6, as shown in Fig. 7. fixedly carries two upper concaved lugs 16 which closely fit around inner opposing faces of the motor they are p voted in its usual operative position, as shown in.

' tubes 30, 31 are and contacts hereinafter frame tubes 3 and 4, to which they are fastened by screws '17. With a motor frame and tool arm support thus constructed, it is obvious that after the bolt 6 is removed, the standard 6, with its frame supports 5 and 16, may be detached from the bracket head plate 7 by simply raising the standard lug pin 6 from 'the bracket head plate slot 6 and the standard 6 may be as readily reapplied to the head plate and be again secured by replacing the pin 6 in the slot 6 and readjusting the bolt 6" in the lugs 6 and the bracket plate 7 i The fulcrum connection of the counterbalanced motor 1 and tool arm 2 comprises a central collar 18, revoluble in annular rabbets or shoulders 19 formed in the inner faces of two opposite side or cheek plates 20, 21, and the parts 18, 20, 21 are preferably held together by a transverse bolt 22 passed through the plate '20 and threaded into the plate 21, as shown in Fig. 5. Thisconnection permits the collar to turn or rock upon the cheek plates while the parts 18, 20, 21 together form a housing which incloses and protects the motor leads or circuit wires, mentioned. The outer ends of the two horizontally spaced tubular frame members 3, 4,- are tightly fitted within supporting bearings 23 on the respective cheek plates 20, 21, and the collar 18 has a lug 24 passing inward between the frame parts 3, 4 and carrying a horizontally curved bolt plate 25 to which the motor 1 is rigidly fastened. The. two plates 20, 21 have pendent lugs 26, 27 holding a transverse bolt or pin 28, against which a shoulder 29 on the collar 18engages to limit the swinging of the motor 1 when the connected tool arm extends about horizontally Figs. 1, 2 and 7.

The tool arm 2 comprises an inner main portion including two vertically spaced tubular members30, 31, preferably having downwardly curved inner ends flared at their extremities to fit upon flared base portions of studs 32, 33, formedron or fixed to the fulcrum collar 18. A clampingplate 34 having thimbles fitting upon the tubes 30, 31, receives a screw35 which enters the collar and thus holds the arm tubes securely binding them to the collar1 8 to which the motor is also fixed. The motor 1 and the tool arm 2 thus rock or turn together as the collar 18 rotates upon the housing cheek plates 20, 21. The vertically spaced arm connected by suitable cross braces 36, and said tubes carry within them outwardly movable telescoping tubes 37 con- 1 nected to the head 38 on which is pivoted a supplemental arm 39 coupled to a similar arm 40 carrying any suitable tool holding hand-piece 41. At 37 is a means for sliding tubes 37 in tubes 30-31,. which however 'ed on the disks in position to ceal and protect said wires.

plece 41, receive a driving belt 43 which leads from a pulley 44 on the motor shaft 45, whereby the dental tool may be operated from the motor 1 at any desired angular position. Whether the motor be running or be at rest, those portions of the driving belt 43 at and near the motor shaft and pulley, and also the inner portions of the two vertically spaced members 30, 31 of the tool arm, will pass upwardly and downwardly between the two opposite relatively fixed and horizontally spaced bowed portions 3 and 4 of the supporting frame as the motor and tool arm are rocked upon their bearings.

The motor lead and contact connect-ions are shown particularly in Figs. 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 of the drawings. The hollow bearing mem ber 18 affords a convenient concealing and protecting housing for the electrical connections of the motor, while the horizontally spaced and preferably upstanding and .parallel arched frame members 3, 4, provide a like housing for those portions of the circuit wires passing from the contacts to intermediate looped portions of the wires leading from the motor frame. Disks 46, 47 of insulating material are fixed to inner faces' of the respective housing cheek plates 20, 21, and contact plates 48, 49 are mountbe engaged by yielding contact brushes 50, 51, pressed to the plates by springs 52, the parts 50, 51 and 52 being sustained by bushings 53, supported by insulating disks 54 fixed in the collar or bearing 18. Leads 55 pass from the brushes 50, 51, through a channel 56 in the collar 18 to the circuit terminals of the motor. Conductor wires 57, 58 pass from the contact plates 48, 49 and lead through the frame tubes or channels 3, 4, which con- Where the wires emerge from the hollow frame supporting bearings 5, they are brought together, as shown at -59, and thence preferably extend through a flexible covering and finishing tube 60. The grouped wires 57, 58, and their covering tube 60 extend in a pendent loop 61, long enough to pass under the preferably hung upon a book 62 sus terbalanced motor sign of the entire apparatus when in operation, this being most desirable in view of the usual high class or aesthetic furnishings of dentists offices and operating rooms. The bowed horizontally spaced tubular frame members may be placed in any position ranging from horizontal to vertical planes but the upstanding arch form as illustrated is preferred because of their strength and rigidity as well as their pleasing symmetry.

IVe claim as our invention:

1. In a dental engine, the combination with a frame comprising two horizontally spaced upstanding arch members, and means for sustaining the frame, of a counand tool arm fulcrumed at the outer ends of the arch frame members, said tool arm lying in a plane between the 'arch frame, members, pulleys on the motor shaftand the tool arm, and a driving belt on said pulleys; theparts being relatively disposed to permit both sides of the running belt to pass between the arch frame members when the motor and tool arm are rocked to operative and inoperative positions. l

2. In a dental' engine, the combination with a frame comprising separated bowed side parts provided at their outer ends with opposing cheek plates, of a motor having a laterally projecting hollow fulcrum bearing movable between the cheek plates, means coupling said bearing and cheek plates together, opposing contact plates carried on the cheek plates within the bearing, yielding contacts within the latter and engaging the contact plates, leads passing from said yielding contacts to the elements of the motor, and conductors passing from the contact plates adapted to be connected to a source of current.

3. In a dental engine, the combination of a frame comprising spaced bowed side parts provided. with opposing cheek plates at their outer ends, a motor having a laterally projecting hollow bearing movable between said cheek'plates, means coupling said bearwing and cheek plates together, contactlplates onthe cheek plates within the bearing,

yielding fcontacts within said bearing and engaging said contact plates, leads connecting said yielding contacts with the motor, leads passing from the contact plates and adapted to be connected with a source of current. and means associated. with said cheek plates for limiting the movement of the motor in the frame.

4. In a dental engine, the combination of a frame comprising a supporting arm, a motor having a supporting arm, cooperating cheek bearing surfaces of substantial area on said frame and motor arms respectiy ely for movably and efficiently supporting the motor on the frame, electrical contacts on said frame arm adJacent said bearing surholding said face connected with a source of power, contacts on the motor arm connected with the motor circuits and cooperating with said. frame contacts during movement of the motor and a housing adjacent said bearing surfaces inclosing and protecting said contacts.

5. In a dental engine, the combination of a frame comprising a hollow supporting arm, a motor having a supporting arm, cooperating cheek bearing surfaces of substantial area on said frame and motor arms respectively, for movably and effectively supporting the motor on the frame, electrical contacts on said frame arms adjacent said bearing surfaces, conductors within said hollow arm connecting said contacts with a source of power, contacts on the motor arm connected with the motor circuits and cooperating with said frame contacts during movement of the motor, and a housing inclosing said contacts.

6. In a dental engine, the combination of a supporting frame, a motor, a tool arm extending from said motor, an annular bearing surface of substantial area on said frame, a cooperating annular bearing surface of substantial area on said arm in counterbalancing position between the motor and tool arm thereof, securing means bearing surfaces in engagement for movably and securely supporting the motor on the frame, cooperating electrical contacts, located within said annular bearing surfaces on the arm and frame, respectively, with resilient means maintaining said contacts in engagement with each other during movement of the motor, connections between said contacts on the frame and a source of power and'between said contacts on the tool arm and the motor circuits,

and a housing adjacent said bearing surfaces inclosing and protecting said contacts.

7. In a dental engine, the combination of a supporting frame, amotor, a tool arm extending from said motor, ing surface of substantial area on said frame, a cooperating annular bearing surface of substantial area on said arm in counterbalancing position between the motor and tool arm thereof, concentric securing means holding said bearing surfaces in engagement for movably and effectively supporting the motor on the frame, electrical contacts within said annular bearing surfaces on the arm and frame comprising substantially annular conductors and resiliently supported contact points cooperating with said conductors during movement of the-tool arm, connections between said contacts on the frame and a source of power and between the contacts on the tool arm and the motor circuits, and a housing formed on said frame and tool arm for inclosing said contacts.

8. In a dental engine, the combination of an annular beara frame comprising spaced supporting arms,

'a motor having a tool arm extending therefrom, cheek bearing surfaces of substantial area on said frame arms, bearing surfaces of substantial area on said tool arm cooperating with said bearing surfaces on the frame for movably and effectively supporting the motor and tool arm, securing means holding said bearing surfaces in engagement with each other, electrical contacts on said frame arms adjacent said bearing surfaces and connected with a source of power, electrical contacts on said tool arm connected with the motor circuits and cooperating with said contacts on the frame arms during movement of the motor, and a housing adjacent said bearing surfaces inclosing said contacts.

9. In a dental engine, the combination of a frame comprising spaced supporting arms, a motor having a tool arm extending therefrom, cheek bearing surfaces of substantial area on said frame arms, bearing surfaces -1ng movement of the motor,

of substantial area on said tool arm located between and cooperating with said bearing surfaces on the frame arms for movably and effectively supporting said motor and tool arm, a belt carried on said tool arm and motor adapted to pass freely between said spaced'frame arms during movement of the motor and tool arm, electrical contacts on said frame arms adjacent said bearin surfaces, connections carried by said rame arms between said contacts and a source of power, contacts on said tool arm connected with the motor circuits and cooperating with said contacts on the frame arms durand a housing formed on said frame and tool arm for in-. closing said contacts.

OSCAR H. PIEPER. ALPHONSE F. PIEPER.

Witnesses:

RUssELL B. GRIFFITH, H. E. STONEBRAKER. 

